This is my first attempt at a serious blog. I am very much into trying new things in life and telling others of my experiences. I am not just about food, tho that is one of my major passions, I am about everything in life...crafting, gadgets, etc. I will try things and post the outcome here, to help others make educated purchasing choices so that no one has to waste money on a product, not knowing if it is good, or just another piece of junk. Come with me on my journey!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Review: Beanilla

As you all know, saying I love to cook and bake would probably be the understatement of the century. I am always trying new things, and then passing on the recipes to you. I didnt learn to cook and bake the conventional way, being as my mom mainly made everything from a box instead of from scratch, and if she ever used vanilla, it was that crappy stuff you get for 99cents at your local mega mart grocery store.

I never knew about REAL vanilla extracts and vanilla beans until Food Network came along, and i got to learn how to cook and bake from the stars on that station...It was there that I learned about the joys of REAL vanilla and vanilla beans. The bad thing was, after going to the store, I found that the real stuff was really cost prohibitive, so i never got to try the products, and had to continue using the artificial stuff. I thought that the fake stuff was awesome in itself...wow, was I ever wrong!!

I had read some blogs and heard from friends, about Beanilla http://www.beanilla.com/ , and I hopped over to their facebook page and their website. I couldn't believe how many great things they carried...I am going to tell you about some of their fantastic products...and away we go!

I tried a generous 4 oz bottle of their Madagascar vanilla extract http://www.beanilla.com/madagascar-vanilla-extract-2x...and let me tell you, it smelled like heaven in a bottle!! (and tasted divine in all my desserts and even in savory dishes!) Yes, I will post the recipes I tried, using this fantastic product, at a later time. It is a unique, robust, full flavoured extract that works fantastic in everything from a delicate vanilla souffle or a decadent creme brulee right down to a rustic chocolate chip cookie!

I had the ultimate pleasure of trying their fresh vanilla bean pods http://www.beanilla.com/vanilla/vanilla-beans . I never imagined I would ever get to try such a luxury product such as these, nor did I ever imagine that there were different kinds of vanilla beans, and that they were so very different! I tried their Madagascar vanilla beans and also their Ugandan vanilla beans...to be honest it is so very hard to pick which one i like better! I tried both of them, and to be honest I think I like the Ugandan just a slight bit more than the Madagascar. It has a fuller bolder more aromatic scent and flavour, so I used this in a rich savory dish that I made, it was truly fantastic. I took one of the Madagascar beans, and split it in half and then cut them in half again, crosswise, and put it in a container of white granulated sugar, and you have not had luxury until you make your own vanilla sugar. And from this vanilla sugar, I created a vanilla scented facial scrub and it is fantastic in tea, coffee, on top of creme brulee, you name it, the possibilities are endless!

I cant wait to try more of their products! And this company is not just limited to vanilla, they have so very much more than that...it may take me a lifetime to try every one of their products but it would be worth the wait!

There are more products than I could ever even imagine on this site! Everything from extracts to saffron and everything in between. And not only are the products fantastic, so are the people! I have had the ultimate pleasure of contacting and dealing with a wonderful customer rep by the name of Natalie Winquist, she has made my Beanilla experience into a real dream come true! I cannot say enough fantastic things about this site, the people and the products ....I hope I can do more reviews on their products. My family and friends are definitely reaping the rewards of me trying out these products lol!

About Me

I am a 47 year old, married, mother of two, grandmother to one. I am handicapped, but I don't let that slow me down. I am a very active individual. I volunteer at our son's school, in the classrooms, in the office, or wherever I happen to be needed. I also am a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Amvets, etc. I am very much into crafting, cooking, baking, movies, music, art, gardening, shopping, writing, and many many more things.